Base-ball-game device.



F. I. CLARK. BASE BALL GAME DEVICE. APPLICATION FILED 06114.1916.

Patented June 4, 1918.

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A W/l/ f A TTORN E Y8 FREDERICK J. CLARK, 0F SYRACUSE, NEW YORK.

. BASE-BALL-GAME DEVICE.

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Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed October 14, 1916. Serial No. 125,591.

I To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that T, FREDERICK J. CLARK, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Syracuse, in the county of Onondaga and State of New York, have invented a certain new and useful, Base-Ball-Game Device, of which the following is a specification.

This invention has for its object a base ball game device or board, and it consists in' the features hereinafter set forth and claimed.

In describing this invention reference is had to the accompanying drawings in which like characters designate corresponding.

parts in all the views.

Figure 1, is a plan view, partly broken away, of one form of my base ball game board.

Fig. 2 is a section taken on line 22, Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on line 3-3, Fig. 1.

This base ball game device comprises a board provided with a surface having positions in which a ball or other object may lodge, indicating the result of the out teams defensive play and the in teams ofiensive play. It also preferably comprises means for impelling a ball onto the field where it may lodge by chance in any one of said positions. 1

In this form of my invention the area of the board is divided into two fields, one field having positions indicating the result of the out teams defensive play and the other field having positions indicating the result of the in teams ofiensive play.

1, designates the board which is supported upon legs 2 so that it is slightly inclined from its upper end toward its lower end. 3 and *4: are respectively the fields having positions indicating respectively the out teams defensive y and the in teams ofi'ensive play, an as here shown these fields are separated by a barrier 5 which extends from the lower end of the board and terminates short of the upper end of the board.

The means for impelling the ball onto,

the field includes a spring-pressed manually operated plunger 6 movable in a socket or barrel 7 and having a handle 8 exposed on the lower end of the board, and in this embodiment of my invention 6, the socket and the plunger are located on one of the lower corners of the board as the lower right hand corner of the field 3.

A ball chute 8 extends from the socket 7" along the contiguous side of the board and along the outer side of the field 3, and means are provided for directing the ball. onto the respective fields 3, 4.

. The means for directing the ball 9 when impelled by the plunger 6 from the chute 8, as here shown, includes a curved guide 10 extending the full width of the playing surface of the board and the ball chute 8, for guiding the ball 9 from the end of the chute 8 to the field 4, and a second displaceable guide 11 extending the width of the field 3 and the chute, from the end of the barrier 5, for directing the ball from the chute 8 to the field 3 and preventing the ball frompassing from the field 3 through the passage 12 between the end of the barrier 5 and the upper end of the board.

The field 3 for indicating the out teams defensive play is provided with suitable positions as sockets 13, on the field and pockets Hat the lower end of the field, and also with pins 15 for obstructing the ball and deflecting it so that the ball must-take an irregular course from the upper end of the field to the lower end among the sockets 13. The sockets and pockets 13, 14 are designated by initial letters F, B, S, and H, sigiiifying respectively foul, ball, strike and sockets 16 in the field 1 than sockets 13 in the field 3, but the number and arrangement may be the same if desired. The sockets 16 and the pockets 17 are suitably designated by letters as O, E, HR, and 1, 2, 3, indicating respectively out, error, home run, and 1st 2nd, and 3rd base.

additional socket 19 is also provided in the passage 12 at the end of the barrier 5, this socket being normally provided with a cover 20 and being indicated by letters *S B, signifying stolen base.

In operation the score is kept as in ordinary base ball on a score card and the player re resenting the out team first shoots the ball 9 by the plunger 6, out of the chute 8 Patented June 41, 11918.

' that instead of two fiel against the guide 11 from which it rolls down the field 3 and lodges in one of the sockets 13 or pockets 1.4. If the ball lodges in the socket F it means that the result is a foul, and if it lodges in a socket or pocket designated 'B or S, the result is a ball or a strike. Lodging of the ball in a socket or pocket H signifies that the player has struck the ball into fair territory and not that he has made a base hit. Assuming that the ball lodges in a socket or a pocket of the field 3 designated H, the guide 11 is then removed and the other player, that is the player representing the in team, shoots the ball 9 from the chute 8 alongthe deflector or guide 10 into the field 4. If the ball 9 lodges in one of the O or out sockets or pockets 16 or 17, the in team has what in the outdoor game is one man out.

The deflector or guide 11 is again placed in position and the out team player again shoots the ball 9. The game then proceeds in like manner until three outs are scored, then the out team and in team positions are reversed.

If an in team player lodges the ball in a socket or a pocket designated 1, 2, 3, or HR, on the field 4 the player has made a 1, 2, or 3 base hit or a home run, as the case may be, the play being scored on the score card. Assuming that the ball lodges in a one base socket or pocket of the field 4 or it lodges four times when shot by the out team player in a socket or pocket designated B of field 3, the in player in each case is credited with a man on first and the out player again shoots to the field 3. Assuming that the ball again lodges in an H socket or pocket, the in player now shoots to field 4.

Assuming that the ball now lodges in the pocket designated 2, the in player is credited with a runner on third base and one on second base, the man credited on first base being advanced two bases; and when the in player lodges the ball in positions of 'sufiicient value to advance a runner to home,

plate, a run is scored on the score card. Likewise when, the ball 9 after being shot by the in player lodges three times on the socket or pockets 16, 17 designated 0, the in or batting side is out. In case the batting side has what corresponds to two men out and a runner on third base, the player may elect to remove the cover 20 of the socket 19, in which case a run. is scored, if the player lodges the ball in the socket 19. If the ball misses this socket the in player is out. The in player may elect to use the stolen base play at any other time. In fact the game is played in accordance with the practice of the outdoor game.

It will be obvious that the sockets and pockets may be arran ed otherwise, and s, one field may be provided and the sockets therein provided with two designating characters one being i used when the out team is shooting the ball, and the other when the in team is shooting.

What I claim is 1. A base ball'game device comprising a board provided with two fields, one field having positions indicating the result of the out teams defensive play and the other having positions indicating the result of the in team's oflensive play, means for impelling a ball ontosaid fields, and means for guiding the balls to the respective fields, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. A base ball game device comprising a board provided with two fields, one field having positions indicating the result of the out teams defensive play and the other having positions indicating the result of the in teams ofi'ensive play, a passage connecting the fields, means common to both fields for impelling a ball onto the fields, and a displaceable guide for confining the movement of the ball to one of said fields when said guide is in operative position, substantially as and for the purpose described.

3. A base ball board provided side by side,

game device comprising a with two fields arranged a barrier separating the fields,

'the barrier having a passage therethrough for connecting the fields, one field having positions indicating the result of the out teams defensive play and the other field having positions indicating the result of the in teams offensive play, and means for impelling the ball onto the fields, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

4. A base ball game device comprising a board provided with two fields arranged side by side, a barrier separating the fields, the barrier having a passage therethrough for connecting the fields, one field having positions indicating the result of the out teams defensive play and the other having positions indicating the result of the in teams offensive play, meansfor impelling .the ball onto the fields, and a displaceable guide arranged to guide the ball to one of said fields and prevent the ball from passing through the passage," substantially as and for the purpose set forth 5. Abase ball game device comprising a board provided with two fields arranged side by side, a barrier separatin the fields, the-barrier having a passage t erethrough for connecting the fields, one field having positions indicating the result of the out teams defensive play and the other having positions indicating the result of the in teams offensive play, a starting chute for a ball extending alongside one of the fields, means for directing the ball from the chute.

through the assage to the other of the fields, and a isplaceable guide arranged to direct the ball onto the former field and prevent the ball passing through the passage, substantially as and for the purpose described.

6. A base ball game device comprising a board having two fields arranged side by side, a barrier separating the fields, the barrier having a passage therethrough for connecting the fields, one field having positions indicating the result of the out teams defensive play and the other having'positions indicatin the result of the in teams offensive p ay, a ball starting chute extending alongside one of the fields, and means for directing the ball from the chute to the respective fields, one of the directing means being displaceable and when in operative position being located to prevent the passing of the ball to the other directing means, sub

stantially as and for the purpose specified.

7. A base ball game device comprising a board having two fields arranged side by side, a. barrier separating the fields and extending from like ends of the fields and terminating short of the other ends, a chute extending alongside one of the fields, means for impelling the ball and along the chute through said passage to the other of the fields or into theformer field, and guiding means for directing the ball to the respective fields, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

8. A base ball game device comprising a board having two fields, one field having positions indicating the result of the out teams defensive play, the other having positions indicating the result of the in teams ofiensive play, a passage connecting the fields, means common to both fields for impelling a ball onto the fields, and a movable guide confining the movement of the ball to one of said fields, one of the positions of the in teams field being located in said passage, substantially as and for the purpose described.

9. A base ball game device comprising a board having two fields arranged side by side, a barrier separating the fields, the barrier having a passage therethrough for dividing the fields, one field having positions indicating the result of the out teams defensive play and the other field having positions indicating the result of the in teams offensive play, a ball chute extending alongside one of the fields, means for directing the ball from the chute to the respective fields, one of the directing means being displaceable and when in operative position being arranged to prevent the passing of the ball to the other directing means, one of the positions of the in field being located in the passage at the end of the barrier, and means for impelling the ball along the chute onto the fields, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

10. A base ball game device comprising a board having two fields, a barrier separating the fields and extending from like ends of the fields and terminating short of the other ends of the fields, providing a passage connecting the fields, one field having positions indicating the result of the out teams defensive play and the other having positions indicating the result of the in teams offensive play, a starting chute for a ball opening into one of the fields, a curved guide extending the full Width of both fields, the passage at one end of the barrier and the chute, and a removable guide extending from the barrier across one of the fields and the chute, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto signed my name at Syracuse, in the county of Onondaga, and State of New York, this 5th day of Oct, 1916.

FREDERICK J. CLARK. 

